Prep co-wrestler of the year: Nate Keeve

At the beginning of the season, Nate Keeve stood outside the wrestling room at Terra Linda High School and outlined his goals for the season: Win a league title, win a North Coast Section title, and win a state title.

Less than three months later, Keeve was the 220 pound MCAL and NCS champion and made Terra Linda history with his fourth-place finish at the state championships, the best a Trojan wrestler had ever finished at that level.

"Coming from where I was, in a wheelchair, to fourth at state"... I'm pretty satisfied with what I did," Keeve said.

Keeve missed his entire junior season with a knee injury and when he was finally cleared to train, it was like "two years in one," he said. "I think more work went into this season because I sat out for so long."

He wasted no time making up for the missed season and captured two quick tournament victories. He finished the season with a 42-2 before the state tournament and like the Trojans' motto he was proud, but not satisfied.

"Winning NCS and all of that stuff was nice, but I wasn't really excited after winning my NCS match," Keeve said. "I kind of mentally prepared myself to win that match at the beginning of the season."

His success at the state tournament, however, was something to remember.

"I went in with the goal of winning, but to do so well against those top tier guys was really nice," he said.

It was nice for himself, he said, but also great to succeed in honor of his motivators.

"To live in the same house as (former Terra Linda standout Roman Ermonov) and see how well he did, to have a season like I did and to do the same things, to do one better and place at state, feels awesome. It feels better for (coach Danny Dardon) as well. ...To finally get him somebody who can achieve that level is awesome."